CORRECTED EDITION: Added image descriptions in this English version. 

In this edition: Giving Tuesday, No Universal Concept of Disability, Metro Is Coming to Loudoun, ECNV Thanks Lois Curtis for Olmstead and more!

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“You are our support system. We really rely on you for that special understanding, stability, caring and support.” – ECNV Consumer

Because of your support, ECNV has empowered people with disabilities to live independently for 40 years! With your continued generosity, ECNV is able to innovate in new directions while maintaining our core services for the people we serve.

Giving Tuesday is tomorrow, November 29. It is a global day of giving unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. We have a goal to raise $5,000 on Giving Tuesday. Please consider making a donation to ECNV to help us continue to enable individuals with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives, determine their own lifestyles, and secure their human and civil rights.

You can also support ECNV on Giving Tuesday through a Facebook fundraising campaign. Click this LINK to learn more about how to create a campaign. Facebook covers all of the payment processing fees for donations made to ECNV.

We are truly grateful for your support of the ECNV community!

[Image: This Giving Tuesday, Support ECNV campaign graphic].

[Image: WMATA system map, close-up on Silver Line].

Disabilities activist Lois Curtis died earlier this month on November 2, 2022. Her lawsuit against the state of Georgia resulted in the Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead decision, providing a legal basis for independent living and community integration for Americans with disabilities.

According to the Administration for Community Living, “[Curtis’] willingness to call out the injustice of segregating people with disabilities led first to the Olmstead decision, which then led the Obama Administration to create ACL, an agency devoted to fostering community living for all people with disabilities and older adults. In fact, the mandate for ACL to serve within the federal government as an advocate for people with disabilities, and owes that privilege in part to Lois Curtis.” 

According to her Washington Post obituary, she was also recognized as a pioneer during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

[Image: Lois Curtis, outside and near a lake, painting a portrait of a puppy with a red collar].

Would you like to find a new home for a power wheelchair or scooter in good working order? Do you have a manual or transport wheelchair you no longer need? Consider a tax-deductible donation through ECNV’s FREE Recycle and Reuse Durable Medical Equipment (DME) program. Do you need equipment or medical supplies including walkers and adult briefs? If you can donate or are in need of these or other DME items, please contact Andrew Shaw by email: andrews@ecnv.org.

We are excited to announce that ECNV is partnering up with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to offer another mentoring program for students with disabilities called Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP)!

Many readers may be familiar with the I Am Self-Advocacy (IASA) Program that we launched a year ago in collaboration with DARS. While the IASA program focuses on honing self-advocacy skills, the Virginia RAMP is focused on career interests.

RAMP is a model being implemented across the country at various sites and has seen success over the last 10 years, enrolling over 4,200 youth and recruiting over 616 mentors. Led by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), this model uses a combination of group and one-on-one peer mentoring to promote the successful transition of RAMP participants to employment, postsecondary education and training, and independent living.

ECNV is serving as a pilot site, receiving referrals from the Fairfax DARS office for students, aged 16-22, who are interested in participating in this year-long program. During the program, students will work on goal setting, STEAM projects, workplace readiness skills development (such as mock interviews and resume building), and hands-on career exploration through activities such as worksite visits, guest speakers, internships, and job shadowing. We kicked off the pilot program on November 11th and expect to end on July 1, 2023.

We are looking forward to building strong relationships with our community partners to make this program a long-lasting success year after year. Specifically, we are looking for volunteer mentors to work directly with the students, guest speakers to talk about their careers/trade, employers to provide work-based experiences, and/or sites that could provide a tour of their industry and a “day-in-the-life” type of presentation.

If you are interested in becoming a partner or learning more about the program, please contact the RAMP Mentor Coordinator, Kevina Brown at kbrown@ecnv.org or call ECNV's office number at 703-525-3268.

[Image: RAMP Coordinator, Kevina Brown orients participants during the RAMP kick off meeting].

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.

The national observance is spearheaded by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. CAN announced the 2021 theme, #CaregiverAnd which encourages family caregivers to celebrate the passions and interests that enrich their lives. This is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country.

Read President Biden's NFCM proclamation and the ACL 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. ACL programs, councils, and research projects help support and empower those caring for older adults and people with disabilities.


The National Family Caregiver Support Program funds a variety of supports that help family and informal caregivers care for older adults in their homes for as long as possible.

• The Lifespan Respite Care Program works to improve the delivery and quality of respite services for caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities
• University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs): Specific services and resources available through UCEDDs may vary, but many offer a variety of resources for families and caregivers including guides, videos, webinars, and training.
• RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council: The Council is charged with providing recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on effective models of family caregiving and support to family caregivers, as well as improving coordination across federal government programs.
• Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: With input from the public, this Council will develop a report that includes best practices, resources, and other useful information for grandparents and other older relatives raising children.
• The National Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Family Support partners with government, academia, and the broad family support stakeholder community to translate state-of-the-art research and training into services and support programs to improve the care, health, and quality of life of all persons with disabilities and the families who support them.
• The RESILIENCE Rehabilitation Research and Training Center’s mission is to improve the health and function of people with disabilities and their caregivers by adapting and scaling two award winning evidence-based programs for children and older adults with disabilities (Chicago Parent Program and CAPABLE) and to design new approaches using key attributes of effective and sustainable programs to ensure program effectiveness, relevance, utility, and scalability.

[Image: National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) campaign graphic].

Are you an individual with a physical disability looking for Personal Assistance Services (PAS)? PAS services may be provided through the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to individuals with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, who require assistance from another person to perform non-medical activities of daily living.

Personal assistance services include a range of services designed to help an individual with a disability with daily living activities on or off the job. These services must be designed to increase the individual's control in life and ability to perform everyday activities on or off the job and include but are not limited to: Getting up and ready for work or going out into the community (including bathing and dressing), cooking, cleaning or running errands. PAS services are consumer directed.

DARS manages three PAS programs:

• Vocational Rehabilitation PAS
• State-funded PAS
• PAS for Individuals with Brain Injury

To find out more about these programs, visit the DARS website, email Carolyn Turner or call 800-552-5019 / TTY 800-464-9950.

Traveling for the holidays can be stressful enough. But what if you have a disability or health condition? In July 2022, The U.S. Department of Transportation released The Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights that include:

1. The Right to Be Treated with Dignity and Respect.
2. The Right to Receive Information About Services and Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations.
3. The Right to Receive Information in an Accessible Format.
4. The Right to Accessible Airport Facilities.
5. The Right to Assistance at Airports.
6. The Right to Assistance on the Aircraft.
7. The Right to Travel with an Assistive Device or Service Animal.
8. The Right to Receive Seating Accommodations.
9. The Right to Accessible Aircraft Features.
10. The Right to Resolution of a Disability-Related Issue.

To reduce stress, it may be helpful to understand available assistance before your travel day. Most airlines now have a phone number and/or web page with information on what assistance they provide so you can make arrangements in advance. If you have an issue, airlines are required to connect you with their Complaints Resolution Officer (CRO) in a timely manner. The CRO should be trained as an expert in resolving disability-related issues and be able to resolve disability-related issues on the spot.

TSA Cares can also help. You can email a request or call (855) 787-2227 to make advance arrangements that include assistance through the required screening process.

We know it is a time to celebrate + be with loved ones, but how do we do it safely? Understanding your COVID-19 risk + the risks that might affect your loved ones can help you make decisions to protect yourself + others. Check out CDC’s list of factors that raise your risk + things you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick. As always, remember to wash your hands, get tested, stay up to date with your vaccines including the bivalent booster, + stay home if you’re not feeling well.

If sick, what are your options? COVID-19 treatments can prevent severe illness. If you test positive, especially if you are in a high-risk group, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider about what treatments may be right for you. Visit the VDH Treatments site for answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 treatments including an Info Sheet on therapeutics.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, while you can no longer get free COVID-19 test kits from the federal government, if you have health insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid, you may be covered for eight free over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests each month. Check with the health insurance through your employer or the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.

You can get your free tests by going to a pharmacy or store that your health plan designates or get reimbursed by submitting a claim to your insurance plan. Check with your health insurance provider to find an in-network pharmacy or to know what receipts or other documentation you’ll need.

For more information, including other free COVID-19 testing options, visit COVID.gov/tests.

[Image: COVID-19 test kit, for at home use].

November Events:

• ACL National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers is now accepting comments on the national strategy to support family caregivers through November 30.

 December Events:

• The Arc of Northern Virginia's 2023 Legislative Priorities, (virtual) 12/1/22, 10:00 am EST.  This event is free.
• Future Planning and Special Education Transition Planning, (virtual), 12/7/2022 at 2:00pm EST. 
• Blind Health Expo, (virtual) 12/2/22 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. This event is free.
• DEIA (#Diversity, #Equity, #Inclusion, and #Accessibility) Summit 2022: A Whole-of-Government Approach to #Disability Employment, (virtual) 12/6/2022 to 12/8/2022. 
• How to Conduct Positive Productive IEP Meetings presented in Spanish, (virtual), 12/7/2022, 7:00 pm EST. 
• Disability Benefits: VA's Medicaid Waivers, (virtual), 12/8/2022, 7:00 pm EST.
• Transportation Coalition by disAbility Resource Center, (virtual) 12/27/22 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST. This discussion will center on increasing affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities. If you are interested in attending, email Debe Fults at (dfults@cildrc.org).

ENCV was active around town promoting our programs and vaccination popups for people with disabilities.

On October 27, 2022, almost everyone at ECNV attended the VACIL Conference in Charlottesville. We had the opportunity to share and learn with colleagues at the other Centers for Independent Living in Virginia. ECNV Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack, facilitated a session on how to develop an “elevator speech” to share information about your Center. Hunter Cardwell, ECNV Travel Trainer, played Ed Roberts in a skit about the beginnings of the Centers for Independent Living Movement. Doris Ray, Director of Advocacy and Outreach presented on a panel on Housing Options.

Additionally, Rushil Prasad, our Peer Mentor intern wrote a beautiful piece on his experience attending the conference.

[Image: Director of Administration, Ruchika Lalwani takes the mic as Rosalia Fajardo (center in blue) and Dominique Dunford-Lack (far right in blue; Dominique Dunford-Lack asks participants for their “elevator speech”; Andrew Shaw takes the mike, amusing Ruchika, Heather Sailes - I&R Intern, and Rosalia (far right)].

On November 5, 2022, George Mason University and Kaiser Permanente’s Northern Virginia Community Health hosted a community workshop for their Place-Based Initiative. This initiative is a collective effort to improve the conditions around health and the social determinants of health in Northern Virginia and to influence policy systems and environments that impact the most vulnerable, implement-based initiative in the Bailey’s Cross Road /Culmore area.

[Images: (Left to Right), Rosalia Fajardo with Katie Wilson, Program Manager, Kaiser Permanente Place-Based Initiative (PBI); Fazia Deen Outreach Director for the Islamic Center (center) speaks to workshop attendees].

On November 8, 2022 ENCV staff member Rosalia Fajardo helped seniors and Latino citizens with disabilities to apply to Alexandria's Recurring Income for Success and Equity’s (ARISE) a guaranteed Income Pilot that will address the longstanding national and institutional problem of the racial income gap. The selected residents will receive an unconditional payment of $500 a month for two years to spend with no requirements and no restrictions.

The program will provide cash payments of $500 per month to 170 Alexandria households for two years. Funding for the program — $3 million — comes from federally-provided American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollar

[Image: From Left to Right An Afro-Latino woman sitting in a wheelchair and Rosalia Fajardo with a laptop and another an Afro-Latina woman sitting in a stool chair].

On November 10, 2022, Kevina Brown, Rosalia Fajardo and Pansy Walker shared information about ECNV at the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), Moving on to Life in the Community: A Resource Fair. The event also co-hosed by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) is designed for students and their families to speak to adult service representatives and gather information about valuable services and support.

[Image: (Left to Right) Rosalia Fajardo, Kevina Brown and Pansy Walker share information about ECNV].

On November 15, 2022, Fairfax County Health Department recognized the impact of the member organizations of the Multicultural Advisory Council in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. ECNV Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo received recognition for her work through Multicultural Families and ECNV. She said that, as a founding member of the Multicultural Advisory Council 15 years ago, she is proud of all the group has accomplished in reaching the multicultural community. ECNV Board Member, Dr. Sergio Rimola was also recognized for his work with the National Hispanic Medical Association.

[Image: (Left to Right), Rosalia Fajardo, Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu. Dr. Sergio Rimola, and Carla Paredes].

On November, 17 2022, ECNV distributed Covid-19 test kits and energy saving light bulbs at the Thanksgiving Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) distribution that reached 150 people.

[Images: A line of Arlington residents waiting to be served; Miguel Fernández, a recently arrived Colombian assisting Rosalía Fajardo in front of the AFAC distribution truck].

On November 18, 2022, Rosalia Fajardo (second from left) assisted the Independence Empowerment Center of Prince William in their Covid-19 outreach initiative in Delaplane, Virginia.

[Image: Rosalia Fajardo (second from left) assists Independence Empowerment Center of Prince William in their Covid-19 outreach initiative in Delaplane, Virginia].

On November 19, 2022, Ruchika Lalwani and Rosalia Fajardo represented ECNV at a meeting of seniors and people with disabilities at the Durga Temple. We reached over 250 people and plan to host a vaccination event in the near future. We wish to thank the president and trustees of the Durga Temple for an opportunity to share information about ECNV and reach out to the Indian Community.

[Images: People gathered at the Durga Temple to find out about opportunities and resources; Ruchika Lalwani sharing information at a resource table; (Left to Right) Rosalia Fajardo, Ruchika Lalwani holding a Covid-19 test kit and Karuna Gulati holding an ECNV brochure].

On November 20, 2022, ECNV was invited to a turkey distribution event hosted by El Corazón a nonprofit serving the Bolivian community in Northern Virginia. We were able to reach over 200 families.

[Image: Rosalia Fajardo distributing COVID-19 test kits, energy saving light bulbs, and goody bags].

The social groups are run by ECNV Staff. These fun gatherings are a great time for connecting, sharing and often take place over a good meal. Perhaps you'll make a new friend, and with lots of pandemic mandates being lifted, it's a perfect time to come back out. For more information, contact Ruchika Lalwani.

December 2 – TGIF Social Group at Delhi Dhaba at 2424 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm

December 16 – The ENDependents Social Group (virtual) from 4:00 – 6:00 pm

January 18 – ECNV Board meeting from 5:00 – 6:30pm

[Image: TGIF Social Group gathering at Silver Diner].

Don't forget to support ECNV by shopping at AmazonSmile!

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to ECNV.